Damian standing beside JFK and Jacqueline K's home - they lived here while he was campaigning for the presidency.
Friday, 4 July 2014
Friday 4th July - Independence Day!!
Today was our last full day in Washington but what a great day to be here - 4th July. Every American was decked out in their red, white and blues, and seemed to be on their way to a rooftop party or a "cookout" (BBQ) or both!! A public holiday, though everything was open, but people in very happy moods.
We decided to explore beautiful Georgetown - which has the oldest house in DC, built in 1765. Georgetown also had some notable residents; JFK, Jacqueline Kennedy, Madeleine Albright, Elizabeth Taylor, and Alexander Graham Bell to name a few. Thank goodness for google - we were easily able to download a self-guided walking map to find the highlights, but we also couldn't help wandering off the track to explore the beautiful old homes. Damian has a dream that he'll live on a ranch in Montana some day... I may be prepared to visit him from my Brownstone house in Washington - such beautiful homes.
We decided to explore beautiful Georgetown - which has the oldest house in DC, built in 1765. Georgetown also had some notable residents; JFK, Jacqueline Kennedy, Madeleine Albright, Elizabeth Taylor, and Alexander Graham Bell to name a few. Thank goodness for google - we were easily able to download a self-guided walking map to find the highlights, but we also couldn't help wandering off the track to explore the beautiful old homes. Damian has a dream that he'll live on a ranch in Montana some day... I may be prepared to visit him from my Brownstone house in Washington - such beautiful homes.
We started our tour at the lock and then the Georgetown Waterfront at the Potomac River. We found a boat below we would have liked to be invited on for a 4th July party.
The Old Stone House of Georgetown - built in 1765
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Last stop of the day
Damian and I went to dinner on Capitol Hill at a French restaurant (though it was owned by Mexicans??) and the kids went to he famous Shake Shack for the best burgers around.
Just had to mention that as we walked home we found a park filled with fireflies. Neither of us think we've seen them before - so amazing, we were like kids and could have watched them all night!!
Tomorrow will be an interesting day with 4th July celebrations. There have been police everywhere, helicopters flying over the city all day, and flags being erected everywhere. The National Mall has a big concert and fireworks event planned for tomorrow night - we'll have to join in the fun!!
Just had to mention that as we walked home we found a park filled with fireflies. Neither of us think we've seen them before - so amazing, we were like kids and could have watched them all night!!
Tomorrow will be an interesting day with 4th July celebrations. There have been police everywhere, helicopters flying over the city all day, and flags being erected everywhere. The National Mall has a big concert and fireworks event planned for tomorrow night - we'll have to join in the fun!!
National Gallery of Art
For the rest of the afternoon, Damian and I were very keen to go to the National Gallery of Art, while the kids were not so keen. They wanted to go to the Newseum - a 6 story collection of exhibits about news, including part of the Berlin Wall, 9-11 items etc. The kids loved it and we loved the art gallery - everybody happy!!
We were amazed that you are actually allowed to take photos in this gallery, so when in Rome...
We were also amazed that this has the most wonderful and vast collection of artwork, including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Cezanne, Pisarro, Toulouse Lautrec, Titian, Picasso, American Artists and a special exhibit of Mary Cassatt and Degas, and the museum was practically empty - great tip from Jan Sullivan thank you!! There are just so many things to see and do in Washington that this gallery seems to be overlooked - and it's all free!!!
So I will treat you to a few of the paintings we saw up close and with no one obstructing our views!! Fabulous!!!
We were amazed that you are actually allowed to take photos in this gallery, so when in Rome...
We were also amazed that this has the most wonderful and vast collection of artwork, including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Cezanne, Pisarro, Toulouse Lautrec, Titian, Picasso, American Artists and a special exhibit of Mary Cassatt and Degas, and the museum was practically empty - great tip from Jan Sullivan thank you!! There are just so many things to see and do in Washington that this gallery seems to be overlooked - and it's all free!!!
So I will treat you to a few of the paintings we saw up close and with no one obstructing our views!! Fabulous!!!
Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson Memorials
We all had the Lincoln Memorial on our wish list, but had no idea how worthwhile it would be to see the Roosevelt and Jefferson Memorials too. Both contained large amounts of text from their speeches, and the Constitution and both were obviously men ahead of their time. Incredibly interesting places to go to, and it makes me realise I have a lot more reading to do about all of these historical figures and how they helped shape the America of today.
From Roosevelt's Monument
Jefferson Memorial
Lincoln
From Roosevelt's Monument
Jefferson Memorial
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